David Jones, manager of Pets At Home Swindon, Bridgemead writes about the fight against fleas and ticks

Spring is nearly upon us – but that also means an increase in fleas and ticks, which thrive in warm weather and feed on animals’ blood.

Fleas are small blood-sucking insects that love pets’ fur, beds and blankets. Difficult to see, they’re incredible jumpers, fast moving, only 2mm long and dark in colour.

For every flea you see on your pet, there can be roughly 95 in your home at various stages of development, hidden in carpets, soft furnishings and even your own clothes.

And rather worryingly, a flea left untreated can produce hundreds more in just 21 days!

Ticks are small arachnids, dark-brown in colour, but appear grey when filled with blood and also feed on animals’ blood.

Found in areas of heathland, woodland and increasingly in urban parks and gardens, ticks are an increasing problem in the UK and can cause serious health issues.

They are second only to mosquitoes in transmitting infectious disease to humans and animals. They’re more common in rural areas and damp conditions, and often attach themselves without notice to areas of the body where the skin is thinner - such as behind the ear or groin.

Ticks can cause irritation, lead to abscess and transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, which can also affect humans. In the UK most tick-borne diseases are uncommon in cats and dogs, but it’s crucial that pet owners treat their pet against ticks as tick bites can be very serious, potentially life-threatening if a disease is contracted.

Prevention is much better than cure in dealing with both ticks and fleas, and there are a whole host of ways of treating and preventing the problem, such as spot-ons, sprays and collars. Make sure you vacuum regularly and wash your pet’s bedding at a high heat.

If your pet is scratching more frequently, has sore patches on their skin or excessive hair loss, these are signs they may be irritated by fleas. Bites around the ankle can also be a symptom of fleas in the home.

Run a special fine-tooth flea comb through their fur to check for fleas or flea dirt, and then wash your pet’s bedding on a high temperature. With ticks, a feeding tick will appear engorged and prove easier to spot, so once identified it can easily be removed with a special tick remover, available in store, but you should always follow the instructions on the pack.

For free, specialist advice, drop in-store and ask to speak to someone about the best way of preventing fleas and ticks on your pet. All our advice is free, there’s no need to book an appointment and we offer free weight checks to make sure the treatment is right for your pet’s breed and weight.

Remember, if you are ever in doubt about your pet’s health to consult a vet as the symptoms of fleas and ticks could be the symptoms of other conditions.